Given our findings regarding Davidson College’s high voting rates, our ensuing work shifts to offering potential explanations for the trends. In doing so, we interviewed Jack Magner, president of the college’s Center for Political Engagement. We asked him the following questions:
What voting resources (provided by your organization, others, or the administration itself) are available for Davidson students in election years?
**Watch the video answer or see key takeaways below**
Keys to Davidson’s Success
- Digital registration walkthroughs (physical and digital infographics)
- Information sessions and registration training for volunteers
- Registration booths around campus — typically located in high-traffic areas (entrance of the student union, Summit Outpost, Chambers flagpole, etc.)
- Breakdowns of different offices on the ballot (with emphasis on down-ballot races)
- Shuttles from campus to polling locations — on election day and throughout early voting
- Additional information is provided through the CPE social media accounts, newsletters/email lists, The Davidsonian, and more.
Why do you think Davidson students are voting at such high rates?
- Davidson’s size: it can be easier to reach a larger percentage of the student body with critical election information, which cultivates a greater sense of political participation and knowledge.
- Emphasis on timing: Davidson’s organizations put in a lot of effort early in the process, getting first-years registered at orientation and setting up booths months before the election. This simplified the process in November.
- Organizational buy-in: Davidson has seen a high buy-in from other campus and community organizations. CPE often partners with local political organizations and campaigns, other partisan campus organizations, and the community (e.g. the Charlotte Hornets’ media team).
How can Davidson continue to improve?
**Watch the video answer or see key takeaways below**
Keys to Davidson’s Success
- Restore pre-COVID registration strategies: Davidson’s orientation process should heavily feature voter registration. When students receive their Cat Cards and mail keys, they should also have the opportunity to register if interested.
- Full institutional buy-in: as of now, voter participation efforts are largely run by CPE and the other partisan political organizations on campus. Getting the institution to help sponsor that process would be helpful both in fostering a campus-wide voting culture and in lifting some of the burdens off of the shoulders of the student-led organizations.
- Continue co-sponsoring events: CPE and the other partisan political organizations on campus should continue to co-sponsor events with other clubs and organizations, community partners, and the college’s educational departments. This would help disseminate information effectively to a broader cohort of the Davidson population.
What could other college campuses do to increase their own civic engagement?
- Focus on timing: getting students registered and informed as early as possible is crucial. As soon as students arrive on campus (particularly first-years), the administration and organizations alike should focus on voter engagement strategies as part of orientation and onboarding. This only makes life easier later in the semester when schedules are more hectic and students have less time.
- Campus and community buy-in: high buy-in from campus organizations, community partners, and college departments can really help. Attaching blanket organizations (like CPE) to a variety of community events helps to expand the reach and scope of important election information.
For more on Davidson’s resources and relevant political information, visit our voting resources page. To learn more about Davidson’s Center for Political Engagement, visit CPE’s Instagram.
